Knowledge and attitudes of diabetes patients on self management practices in government hospitals in the Upper West Region

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing the knowledge and attitudes of diabetes clients on self-management practices in public hospitals in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The research was a cross-sectional survey. It adopted stratified sampling technique to select 201 respondents. A questionnaire was used in the study for data collection with a reliability coefficient of 0.8.The data was analysed using the SPSS version 21. The findings of the study revealed that diabetic patients are highly knowledgeable about the disease. Also to a greater extent patient demonstrated a positive attitude toward diabetes. The study also revealed to a significant extent that patients hadfew barriers regarding selfmanagement practices. The clinics provided several services to diabetic patients. It was also evident that diabetes patients to a greater extent adhere to prescribed self-management practices. There was also significant relationship between knowledge and attitudes of diabetes clients and self-management practices. It further revealed that demographic factors have no effect on self management practices. Finally, there was a significant difference among the hospitals and their self-management practices